GOI refuses to recognise merit

DNIS News Network - The idea of any law or policy is to empower marginalised
people. But this is a curious case of disabled persons being pushed downwards
on account of so-called reservation.

It was at an everyday lecture at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of
Administration, Mussoorie, that Javed Abidi, Executive Director of National
Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), came across
an unusual case. Two disabled young men, Rigzin Sampheal and Lokesh had qualified
the Civil Service exams entirely on their own merit and should have been placed
in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Instead, they had been given the Indian Information Service (IIS) because the
Government of India (GOI) feels that people with disabilities cannot, or rather
should not, be allowed to become IAS officers.

It was in 1977 that the GOI gave 3 per cent reservation in jobs to disabled
people, but only in the 'C' and 'D' categories. The Disability Act of 1995 tried
to change that and extended the reservation to the 'A' and 'B' categories.

However, out of 26 service categories of Indian Administrative Services, only
three services are reserved for disabled candidates. There are no vacancies
for visually or hearing impaired candidates even in those categories.

Although the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations every
year in a disabled-friendly atmosphere with Braille question papers, it has
no jobs to offer to eligible candidates!

In 21st century India, hundreds and thousands of trained, smart and educated
disabled people are still being denied employment opportunities that are theirs
by right.